New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-02-17
BILLS THAT AFFECT WOMEN.
SHALL THEY BE HANGED FOR MURDERi
A. BILL TO PROVIDE FOR THE DEATH PENALTY IN
CASES LIKE THAT OF MRS. DRUsE-MUNICI-
PAL SUFFRAGE BILL PASSED IN
rsr TELEGRAPH To TIE rRIBUNE.l,

fBY TELEGRAPH To TIE TRIBUNE.lt
ALBlSY Feb. 16.-Women would have been much In
torsed In the debates OF the Legislature to day for IN
both Senate and Assembly subjects were discussed III
which they especially concerned 1t Is within the
memory Of all that last fall jury in Herkmer County
convicted Mrs Druse OF having murdered her husband
and Judge sentenced her to be hanged Subsequently
Governor Hill repreved Mrs Druse, saying that he de
sired learn from the Legislature its opinion of tho
law which says that women shall be hanged
II they commit murder No law could be passed by the
Legislature which would affect Mrs Druses sentence Of
DEATH but Ia generally understood that the Governor
would commute Mrs. Druses sentence to imprisonment
for life II the Legislature should pass act exemptng
women from being hanged for murder Early in the
sion Of the Assembly bill presented by
Assemblyman Hadley, Of Franklin County, de-
caring that should not be punished for
murder by being hanged. The death penalty
was not abrogated for in. this act To-day the As
sembly Judiciary Committee reported unfavoraby Mr..
Hadley's bill. There was contest In the committee
the bill four of the members, Baker, Cole Saxton
and Cantor desiring to report the measure favoraby.
and ak members Arnold, Howe, Maurer, McEvoy
Greene Ives and Mcintyre wishing to make an adverse
report upon IT, Mr. Baker the chairman Of the commit
tee when he had presented the adverse report moved
that 1t be laid on the table, saying that
Mr. Hadley, the author OF the bill, was
sick, and should be consulted. Mr.. sheehan
the Democratic leader, obstreperously opposed the
adoption OF Mr. Bakers motion and favored killing the
bill recommended by the judiciary Committee.
Mr. sheehan flow about among the Democrats gathering
supporters OF his idea He Jealous IN his oppos
ton the that there considerable suspicion
expressed that Governor Hill did not desire the bill to
reach him and hoped that tho Legislature alone would
shoulder tue responsibility Of keeping In force the death
penalty for women murderers ~
Mr. Bakers motion 10 put tho adverse report on the
table adopted by vote OF SO TO 4o Mr. Baker then
announced that he would call the adverse report to-
and permit decision TO be ached on the bill
Mrs Druses reprieve expires within fortnight and the
Legislature will hold few sessions In period having
resolved today Do adjourn Friday next until Wednes
day OF the following week. ostcnsiby In honor OF Wash
ington's Birthday.
The second hill that Interested women was debated In
the senate IL was presented TO the Legislature by tho
to vote at elections in cities Tho advocates of woman
suffrage manage 10 interpret the Constitution and the
States laws In such manner that they give women ut
least the authority 10 vote At elections In cities FOR city
officers. Senator Coggeshail opened the debate on
the BILL which had already been ordered 10 third read
ing by skechn the ssOf the suffrage
mcnt and predicting its ultimate triumph sonator
Pitts held that under advancing civilization, women now
had every right except the ballot The passage OF this
good OF the state Mr. Veder argued that policy aud alb
soluto Justice demanded the bestowa OF the ballot on
woman. Mr.. Low believed that Republican government
would never be secure until woman was eniranch.ed pr
Fasse held that the bill lid not 90 far enough though IL
went as far as the Constitution would permit
Mr. TrBphagen moved Ia amend the bill by comforting
also the ballot In state and County elections Mr. smith
declared that the amendment would kill the bill as the
Governor would 10 unconstitutional Mr.. Ranes
ged that the effect Of tho oDiranchiscment OF woman
would he the solution OF the liquor question and the free
Ing Of politics from saloon domination Mr. PITTS said
the restriction OF suffrage 10 males In tho Constt-
ton applied only 10 the general elections not to munich
The bill was passed by the following vote
Fa.seit eTsSod ienrics.. Hoysfadt, KNAPP Low Mar
Vim, Murphy. rit. Rsnes Reilly. sloan. saith ysdder
Nc MILAN. Nelson Parker. Pierce, Traphasen Worth"V